JP2002333961A - Method for using print service - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and method for using a service by performing access to a commercial print service such as a printing agent. SOLUTION: A local client computing device receives a print request, and displays a remotely served print interface. The interface is constituted so that a print parameter can be requested. A printable file is prepared in response to the print request, and the printing parameter associated with the printable file is transmitted from the local client computing device to a remote printing agent. The printable file or the printing parameter can be temporarily uploaded to a repository before downloaded to the remote printing agent so as to be printed. The local client computing device is provided with a browser, and after receiving the print request, the local client computing device opens the browser to an address from which the interface is remotely served. The browser can be opened by a client initialization program which can be called by a print driver associated with a print service.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates generally to printing, and more particularly, to a system and method for accessing and using a remote print service from a local computer via a remotely operated print interface.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION With the advancement of desktop publishing software, computer users are increasingly
High quality prints and finishes (finishes not found in printers designed for home and office use)
hing) It is becoming possible to create complex documents that require services. For example, a user may want to print large format documents, high resolution color documents, bound documents, etc. beyond the capabilities of the user's home or office printer. Further, a user may wish to print a large number of copies of a document, which is slow and expensive when printing on a user's home or office printer. Users are now able to print orders for these high quality and large volumes of documents on advanced printers designed for high speed, high quality commercial use. ). Typically, the documents are stored on a CD-ROM or other portable storage medium and shipped or shipped to a commercial printer for processing. This process is slow and laborious, and results in increased costs for producing the document.

[0003]

It would be desirable to provide a convenient system and method for accessing and using commercial print services from a user's local home or office computer.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A print service system and a method for using the same are provided. The method is
Typically, local client computing
Receiving a print request at the device;
Displaying the remotely provided print interface on a local client computing device. The print interface is typically configured to request print parameters associated with the print request. A method according to the present invention comprises the steps of creating a printable file in response to a print request, and storing the printable file and associated print parameters for printing in a local client
Remote printing from the computing device (remote
transmitting to the publisher). The print interface may be provided by a workflow application server associated with the print service, and the printable files and print parameters are temporarily uploaded to a repository before being downloaded to a remote printer for printing. be able to. The local client computing device may comprise a browser, and the method further comprises, after receiving the print request, opening the browser to an address where a print interface is provided remotely. The browser can be opened with a client initialization program that can be invoked by a print driver associated with the print service.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method according to the present invention comprises the steps of receiving a print request at a local client computing device and creating a printable file in response to the print request. And may be included. The method according to the present invention provides a locally provided print interface with a local
The method may further include displaying on the client computing device and requesting and receiving print parameters associated with the print request via the print interface. The method according to the invention may also include the step of transmitting a printable file and print parameters to the selected remote printer for printing.

A print service system typically receives a print request from a user and a print service workflow application server configured to function as a print interface over a wide area network, and in response to the request, A local computing device configured to download and display a print interface from a workflow application server over a wide area network. The print interface is typically configured to receive print parameters associated with the print request. The print parameters include the number of copies, paper type, binding type, color print options and imposition, selected destination remote printer associated with the print service, shipping and / or billing address, payment information, Or print options such as other suitable print parameters. The local computing device is typically configured to create a printable file associated with the print request. The local computing device is also typically configured to send printable files to a remote printer, either directly or via a repository.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a print service system comprises a local client computing device configured to connect to a wide area network, wherein a remote print server is also connected to the wide area network. It is configured to The system according to the invention further comprises a repository server and an associated database. The repository server is also configured to connect to a wide area network. The system according to the invention further comprises a print service workflow application server configured to be connected to the wide area network. Local client
The computing device is configured to contact the print service workflow application server in response to receiving the print request;
Print service, workflow, application,
The server is configured to instruct a local client computing device to upload a printable file associated with the print request to a repository server for storage in a repository database. In addition, the print service workflow application server provides the remote printer server with
It is configured to instruct to download a printable file from a repository for printing.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print service system utility comprising a print driver configured to open a browser to a predetermined address of a commercial print service. The print driver can be configured to open the browser at a predetermined address by activating a client initialization program configured to open the browser at a predetermined address.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a print service system 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The system 10 typically includes a remote print service 1 via a computer network 20.
3, a local client computing device 12, a print service workflow application server 1
4, a repository 16, and a remote printer 18.
In response to a print request to print a document via the remote print service 13, the client computing device will
It is configured to access the workflow application server 14 and download the print interface 26. Print service workflow
Application server 14 instructs local client computing device 12 to send printable file 22 to repository server 16a for temporary storage in repository database 16b, as indicated by dashed path B. . Further, the print service workflow application server 14 returns the print parameters 24 received via the print interface 26 to the local client computing device 12 to the workflow server 14, as indicated by dashed path A. Order. Next, the print service workflow application server 14, as indicated by the dashed path C,
It instructs the remote print server 18a to download the printable file 22 from the repository 16 and to download the print parameters 24 from the workflow application server 14, as indicated by the dashed path D. Next, the printer 18 operates as follows.
The print request is satisfied by printing the printable file 22 in accordance with the print parameter 24 in one of the steps 8d.

As shown in FIG. 2, local client computing device 12 typically includes a personal computer having a central processing unit (CPU) 28 linked to memory 30 and mass storage 32 by a bus 34. It is. Memory 30 typically includes random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), and computing device 12.
Contains basic input / output routines required for startup
The mass storage device 32 is typically a hard drive, but in fact, any other suitable form of mass storage device, such as a CD drive, magneto-optical drive, flash memory, floppy drive, etc. It will be appreciated that it can be used. The client computing device 12 also typically includes a keyboard 36, a mouse 38, and a display 40 linked to the bus 34 via a communication port. Further, the client computing device 12 includes a network interface 42 configured to link the computer 12 to the computer network 20. In one embodiment of the present invention, software is typically stored in mass storage 32 and, when executed by CPU 28, loaded into memory 30.

In addition, a workflow application
It will also be appreciated that server 14, repository server 16a, and remote print server 18a are typically computers having a hardware architecture similar to that shown in FIG. The local client computing device 12 is typically a personal computer, and the computing device 12 is a PDA
It will be appreciated that the device may be a (Personal Digital Assistant), a mainframe computer, or other form of computing device configured to generate and communicate over a computer network 20 for printable documents.

As shown in FIG. 3, client 12 is typically configured with user-selectable print commands, such as those in the file / print menu of many commercially available applications compatible with the WINDOWS operating system. Application program 44 to be executed. Client 12 also includes a print service print driver 46 configured to create printable file 22. Usually, the printable file 22 is a PDF (portable d
ocument format) Document file. PDF files can be locked. For information on the PDF format, see Adobe, located in San Jose, California.
Commercially available from Systems Incorporated. Alternatively, another file format may be used.

Print service / print driver 46
Is typically configured to call the client initialization program 48. The client initialization program
The application server address is configured to contact the workflow application server 14 via the network 20 to download the user interface address and repository or upload the address. Each of these addresses is usually a uniform resource locator (U
RL), but other suitable computer network address types may be used. For this reason, these addresses are also called application server URL, user interface URL, and upload URL. Usually, the application server URL is stored in the client initialization program software.
The workflow application server URL can be updated periodically by the workflow application server 14. Because the upload URL and the user interface URL are downloaded during each print service session, the location of the repository and print interface server may change dynamically according to the location and / or needs of the user.

When the upload URL and the user interface URL are downloaded, the client initialization program uploads the printable file 22 to the repository 18 at the upload URL, and also downloads and displays the print interface 26 from the user interface URL. It is configured as follows. Typically, the user interface URL is provided by the workflow application server 14, but this is not required. Alternatively, another remote server may use the print interface 26
May be provided. The upload module 56 can be configured to encrypt the printable files 22, 22a to prevent unauthorized access to the file being uploaded.

The client initialization program can receive the printable file 22 from the print service print driver 46 or upload the printable file 22 to the repository at a predetermined file path on the computing device 12. It can be configured to access the printable file 22. It will be appreciated that the application program 44 may be configured to directly invoke the client initialization program 48 without using the print driver 46.

The client computing device 12 may also include a native printable file 22a as well as a drag and drop utility program 50. Native printable file 22a can be virtually any type of printable file. For example, native printable files 22a include Microsoft (TM) Word, Adobe (TM), PageMake.
r (TM), Photoshop (TM), or Il
file stored in an application-specific format, such as the Lustrator ™ format, or the Rich Text Format (RT
F), a jpeg format, or a format unrelated to the application, such as a gif format, or any other substantially printable format. Native printable file 22
a is referred to herein as "native" because it is not modified by the print driver to generate a driver-specific printable file.

The user typically drops an icon representing the native printable file 22a onto an icon representing the drag and drop utility program 50. The drag and drop utility 50 is configured to, in response, pass the native printable file 22a to the client initialization program 48. The native printable file 22a is typically sent directly to the client initialization program 48 or is made accessible to the client initialization program 48 at a predetermined file path on the local client computing device 12.

The local client computing device 12 also includes a browser application 52 configured to access web pages and other web resources on a remote server, such as the print service workflow application server 14. Exemplary browsers that can be used in accordance with embodiments of the present invention include Netscape Communications C, Santa Clara, California.
Netscape browser, commercially available from corporation, or Micr, located in Redmond, Wash.
Inte commercially available from software Corporation
rnet Explorer browser. When the user selects printing of the printable file via the remote print service 13 by dragging and dropping the native printable file 22a or selecting the remote print service print driver 46, the client initialization The program 48 activates the browser 52 and / or opens to a predetermined address, typically a uniform resource locator (URL), via the print interface 26, which is remotely serviced by the print service workflow application server 14. It is composed of

The local client computing device 12 also has a printable file 2
An associated upload module 56 configured to upload 2,22a to a preselected upload site is also provided. Hereinafter, the printable file 22
May be used to indicate the printable files 22 and 22a collectively. The preselected upload site is typically the repository 16, and the upload module 56 is configured to communicate with the servlet 54 to upload the printable file 22 to the repository.

The print service workflow application server 14 is typically configured to direct upload and download of printable files and print parameters along paths B, C, and D in FIG. Alternatively, the printable files and / or print parameters can be uploaded from the local client computing device 12 to the remote printer 18 or directly to the print service workflow application server 14. It will also be appreciated that, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the repository 16 and the workflow application server 14 may be one server at the same address of the computer network 20.

The print service / workflow application server 14 generally includes a user interface controller 60 and a job storage application 6.
2, and a workflow application server having associated program elements including a printer locator 64.
A program 58 is provided. The user interface controller 60 provides a print interface 26 to the local client computing device 12 as shown by dashed line A, and typically provides a page at the user interface URL described above. Be composed. The job storage application 62 is configured to instruct upload and download of the printable files 22, 22a and the print parameters 24. Printer locator 64
Is a print interface 26 as shown in FIG.
Is configured to determine a list of available printers to be displayed on the printer selection screen 82 of the printer.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-6, a method 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. Method 100
Typically includes, at 102, a user selecting a print command in an application program 44 running on the local computing device 12. Usually this is a file /
Made by selecting a print menu option, virtually any other suitable print command is selectable by the user. At 104, the method typically includes receiving a print request at the local computing device 12.

At 106, the method proceeds to 6 in FIG.
And displaying a print dialog box or menu as shown in FIG. While the print dialog box of FIG. 7 is typically generated by the local client computing device 12, the screens shown in FIGS. 8-12 are typically remoted by the workflow application server 14 or another predetermined remote server. Will be provided. Typically, the print dialog menu includes a selector 68 configured to allow a user to select a commercial print service option 68a to send the current print request to the print service 13. The identification and status of the printer driver 46 related to the print service 13 are displayed in the print service information area 70. The print dialog box 70 also typically includes a page range selection tool 72 and a copy number selection tool 74. These print parameters are passed to the print interface 26, where the number of copies automatically appears in the selector 80a for editing by the user, as shown in FIG.

At 108, the method is as follows: the print service 13 selected by the user is selected by the selector 6 as the designated printer.
8. At 110, the method further includes receiving the user's OK button 76 selection. At 112, the method returns to the printable file 22 via the print driver 46.
And sending the locked printable file 22 to the client initialization program 48. Printable files can be locked as described above. Further, it will be appreciated that rather than sending the entire printable file 22 to the program 48, the file path of the printable file 22 may be passed to the client initialization program 48. At 114, the client initialization program 48 is activated. Typically, this is done by a call from the print driver 46.

In addition to receiving a user command to print the file from the application program 44, the method includes, at 116, a user having a native print at a drag-and-drop program 50 configured to access the print service 13. A step of dragging and dropping the possible file 22a may be included. In accordance with the method, the drag and drop program 50 receives a print request at 104 and, at 118, converts the native printable file to the client initialization program 48.
Pass to. This action typically invokes a client initialization program at 114. Alternatively, the drag-and-drop program 50 invokes the client initialization program 48 and activates the local computing device where the native printable file is stored.
The client initialization program can be instructed about the file path on device 12.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the method 100 includes a
In the workflow application server 1 at the workflow application server address
4 requests a new job, and sends a user interface URL from the workflow application server 14.
And receiving a repository or upload URL. At 122, the method proceeds with upload module 56 using the upload URL.
Launching. At 124, the method comprises:
Sending the printable files 22, 22a to the repository 16 at the upload URL.

[0027] Typically, concurrent with steps 122 and 124, the method includes, at 126, launching the browser 52 to a user interface address at which the print interface 26 is provided. Typically, this address is a URL provided by the print service workflow application server 14, as described above. At 128, the method includes print service workflow application server 1
4 to provide a print interface 26. Since the print interface 26 is provided from the print service workflow application server 14 to the local computing device 12 via a wide area network (typically the Internet), it is referred to herein as "provided remotely. ,
Works). Alternatively, print interface 26 may be provided remotely from another remote server via network 20.

At 130, the method includes providing the remotely provided print interface 26 via the browser 52.
On the display 40 of the local computing device 12. The screens associated with the remotely provided print interface 26 are shown in FIGS. 8-12, while FIG. 7 shows a locally generated print dialog box. At 132, the method further includes displaying a login screen as shown at 78 in FIG. The login screen 78 typically displays a user I configured to request a user ID.
D input frame 78a is included. In the illustrated embodiment, the user ID is an email address. Alternatively, another user ID may be used. Login screen 78 is usually
Also includes a password input box 78b. Further, the login screen 78 includes a continuation button 78c, and the user
The continue button 78c can be selected to send login information including the password and the password to the print service workflow application server 14.
At the workflow application server 14, the login information is typically verified using existing user records stored in an associated database. Typically, the user ID is an e-mail address, which can be used later to update the user about the status of the print request.

Referring now to FIG. 6, at 134, the method 100 includes requesting and receiving print parameters 24 for a print request via the print interface 26. The print parameter 24 is usually
Includes print options such as number of copies, paper type, binding type, color print option, and assembly. Print parameters 24 may also include selected designated remote printer 18 to which printable file 22 and associated print parameters 24 are sent. Print parameters 24 may also include the user's shipping and / or billing address, and payment information associated with the print request. It is understood that these print parameters are exemplary and may require substantially any other suitable print parameters, including other finish and binding options, color options, cover options, fold options, etc. I want to.

Normally, step 234 includes substep 1
Via one or more of 36-142. At 136, the method typically includes displaying a print options screen, shown at 80 in FIG. 9, and requesting and receiving print options via the print options screen. The print option screen 80 generally includes a copy selector 80a, a paper type selector 80b,
Binding type selector 80c, color print option selector 80d configured to allow the user to select from color, gray scale, and monochrome, assembling selector configured to allow the user to select from one side, short sides on both sides, and long sides on both sides 80e. The print options screen 80 typically also includes a submit button selected by the user after adjusting the print options via the various print option selectors 80a-80e.

At 138, the method typically includes receiving the designated printer 18 selected by the user via the printer selection screen shown at 82 in FIG. The printer selection screen typically includes a list 82a of available printers generated by the printer locator 64. Listing 8
2a is usually a printer name 82b, a printing business address 82c,
Includes price 82c and estimated shipping time 82e. A purchase selection tool 82f is displayed adjacent to information about each remote printer in the list 82a, which allows the user to:
The selected designated remote printer 18 to which the printable files 22, 22a and print parameters 24 are to be transmitted can be selected.

At 140, the method further includes receiving the shipping and / or billing address via the address entry screen shown at 84 in FIG. Usually, the address input screen 84 includes an address input box 84a and a selector 84b for indicating whether or not the shipping and billing addresses are the same.
When the user inputs a desired address, the user normally proceeds by pressing the continue button 84c.

At 142, the method typically includes receiving payment information via the payment screen shown at 86 in FIG. Payment screen 86 typically includes an input box 86a configured to receive payment information, such as credit or debit card number, expiration date, and cardholder name. After inputting this information, the user presses the normal continuation button 86a.

The method 100 typically further includes, at 144, transmitting the printable file 22 along with the print parameters 24 to the selected designated printer 18. Although only a single printer is shown in FIG. 1 for clarity purposes, multiple printers 18 are typically connected to the network 20 and connected to the print service 13 as shown in list 82a of FIG. It will be appreciated that they are related. Typically, the print parameters 24 are temporarily stored on the local computing device 12 as the user progresses through many screens of the print interface 26 and are selected by the upload plug-in 54 and the servlet 56 at the same time as the printable file 22. It is transmitted to the designated printer 18. Typically, the workflow application server 14 will select the remote printer 1 selected from the local computing device 12 via paths A, B, C, and D above.
8 is instructed to upload the printable file 22 and the print parameters 24.

The transmission of the printable file in step 144 typically includes transmitting 146 the printable file 22 from the local computing device 12 to the repository 16 via the computer network 20 for temporary storage, At 148, this is done by transmitting the printable file 22 from the repository 16 to the selected designated printer 18 via the computer network 20. The transmission of the print parameters 24 in step 144 typically involves transmitting the print parameters 24 from the local computing device 12 to the workflow application server 14.
Is transmitted, and at 152, the print parameters 24 are transmitted from the workflow application server 14 to the selected destination printer 18.

At 144, the method typically includes fulfilling a print request at the selected designated printer by printing the printable file 22 according to the print parameters 24. At 146, the method typically includes shipping the printed document to a shipping address.

146, 148, 150, 15 in FIG.
The description of 2, 154 is as follows. 146: Send the printable file from the local computing device to the repository for temporary purposes via the computer network. 148: Send the printable file from the repository to the selected designated printer via the computer network. 150: Send print parameters from the local computing device to the workflow application server. 152: Send print parameters from the workflow application server to the designated printer. 154: At the selected designated printer, print the printable file according to the print parameters,
Meet print requirements.

Further, according to another embodiment of the present invention,
A floppy (registered trademark) disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a
A program storage device such as a VD-ROM, a flash memory device, or another storage device readable by a machine such as a computer can be provided.

In particular, the device is a local client
Receiving a print request at a computing device, displaying a print interface remotely provided to a local client computing device and configured to request print parameters associated with the print request. It may include instructions executable by a machine that performs the method. In addition, the method is for printing,
(1) A printable file corresponding to the print request,
And (2) transmitting the print parameters to the selected remote printer. The method may also include sending the printable file to the remote printer by (1) uploading the printable file to the repository and (2) downloading the printable file from the repository to the remote printer.

The apparatus also receives a print request at a local client computing device, creates a printable file in response to the print request, and remotely provides the print request to the local client computing device. Displaying a print interface to be printed, requesting and receiving print parameters associated with the print request via the print interface, and sending a printable file and print parameters to the selected remote printer for printing. And instructions executable by a machine that performs the method.

According to the above embodiment of the present invention, a user conveniently accesses and uses a remote print service from a local computing device via a remotely provided print interface, thereby doing so. Saves time and money over traditional methods.

Industrial Applicability Embodiments of the present invention are applicable to commercial print services and other networked computer systems utilizing printers.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with particular reference to the above-described exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention can be implemented without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications can be made.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. Hereinafter, examples of each embodiment of the present invention will be described. Embodiment 1 A method of utilizing a print service (13), comprising: receiving a print request at a local client computing device (12); said local client computing device (12). Displaying a print interface (26) acting remotely on the print interface (26), wherein the print interface (26) is configured to request print parameters (24) associated with the print request. How to use the print service. (Embodiment 2) The method of the preceding clause 1, further comprising the step of creating a printable file (22, 22a) corresponding to the print request. (Embodiment 3) For printing, a printable file (22, 22a) is transferred from a local client computing device (12) to a remote printer (18).
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of transmitting to: (Embodiment 4) Printable file (22, 22a)
Sending the printable file (22, 22a) from the local client computing device (12) to the repository (16) and sending the printable file (22, 22a) to the remote printer (18). ) From the repository (16) to the remote printer (18).
Item 3. The method according to item 3, above. (Embodiment 5) Printable file (22, 22a)
At the remote printer (18).
4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of sending print parameters to a remote printer (18) so that printing can be performed according to 4). (Embodiment 6) The print dialog menu further comprising the step of displaying a print dialog menu (66) on the local client computing device (12) after receiving the print request via the application program (44). The method of claim 1, wherein (66) includes a remote print service option (68a). The method of claim 6, further comprising creating a printable file (22, 22a) for the print request in response to a user selecting a print service option (68a). (Embodiment 8) Printable files (22, 22a)
Is a print service / print driver (4) called by the application program (44).
The method according to the above item 7, which is created by 6). Embodiment 9 The local client computing device (12) comprises a browser (52);
The method includes the steps of: receiving a print request, and executing
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of opening 2) to an address at which the print interface (26) is provided remotely. (Embodiment 10) The local client computing device (12) includes a client initialization program (48), and the step of opening the browser (52) to an address where the print interface (26) is provided includes the steps of client initialization. The program (48) is started from the print service / print driver (46),
10. The method according to the preceding clause 9, which is performed by starting a browser (52) from a client initialization program (48).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a print service system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the local client computing device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the software architecture of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for using a print service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of using a print service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for using a print service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a print dialog menu displayed on the local client computing device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a print interface login screen displayed on the local client computing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a print option screen of the print interface of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a designated printer selection screen of the print interface of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a view showing an address input screen of the print interface of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a view showing a payment screen of the print interface of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

12: Local client computing
Device 13: Remote print service 16: Repository 18: Remote printer 22, 22a: Printable file 24: Print parameter 26: Print interface 44: Application program 46: Print service print driver 48: Client initialization program 52: Browser 66: Print dialog menu 68a: Remote print service option

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 HQ17 5B021 AA01 AA02 BB01 BB04

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A method for utilizing a print service, comprising: receiving a print request at a local client computing device; and printing remotely acting on the local client computing device. Displaying an interface, wherein the print interface is configured to request print parameters associated with the print request.